By Narges Mohammadi, Evin Prison, Iran 4 August 2015, 14:37 UTC
Narges Mohammadi has been in and out of prison for more than a decade for her support of human rights in Iran. Three months since her most recent imprisonment, she writes this personal letter from jail on what it means to be separated from her children.
The security forces broke the door and entered my house. Kiana was sitting on my lap with her little arms around my neck. She was scared and was holding on to me tightly. Ali was extremely agitated. He was following the officers and was constantly warning them, “Do not touch my stuff”. He called Kiana and said, “Kiana come and see, Mr. Cone head is trying to steal our things.”
Security forces came to take me to the Ministry of Intelligence. Ali was running around holding his yellow toy gun, saying he wanted to come with me. My dear Kiana held the corner of my dress and said, “Mother Narges don’t go”. With difficultly, I separated myself from my children and left the house while hearing them cry. I then got in the car with the officers.
On May 5, 2015, my dear Kiana and Ali went to school at 7am. At 8:30am the security forces were waiting outside the apartment door. They said, “Open the door, you have to come with us.” They took me to the general women’s ward of Evin Prison.
I’m looking at the clock now and Ali and Kiana’s flight has taken off. And I, a mother in pain who is tired of hurting and suffering, is left behind. My heart has been torn into hundreds of pieces. My hands – without even trying – face the sky.
Dear God, please take my hands and give me the patience I need. I won’t be able to see their innocent faces for a long time. My hands move towards my chest which feels as if it’s on fire. My cheekbones burn from the tears that run down my face. The lava flowing from my eyes feels like fire from the depths of my heart.
This blog is taken from a letter from Narges Mohammadi to the Prosecutor General of Tehran in July 2015, in which she also demands better treatment of women in the prison. Since her children left the country, Narges has not been allowed to speak with them on the phone.
Amnesty International is calling on Iran to release human rights defender Narges Mohammadi immediately and unconditionally as a prisoner of conscience.
